Henri's Scissors: with audio recording

by Jeanette Winter

Step into the colorful world of Henri Matisse and his magnificent paper cutouts in this biography by acclaimed picture book creator Jeanette Winter.In a small weaving town in France, a young boy named Henri-Emile Matisse drew pictures everywhere, and when he grew up, he moved to Paris and became a famous artist who created paintings that were adored around the world. But late in life a serious illness confined him to a wheelchair, and amazingly, it was from there that he created among his most beloved works—enormous and breathtaking paper cutouts. Based on the life of Henri Matisse, this moving and inspirational picture book biography includes a note from the author, dynamic quotes from Matisse himself, and an illuminating look at a little-known part of a great artist’s creative process.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Biography, Nonfiction, Childrens, History, France

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2013

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some young readers will be familiar with the paintings of Henri Matisse who was born in France. The text and illustrations, created with cut paper and acrylic paint, cover Henri's formative years and the influence of his mother. After leaving behind a possible law career, he focused on painting. Many years later, after a successful career, he became ill and was unable to paint. Still, he managed to create, using painted paper and scissors. Eventually, the walls of his room were filled with a paper forest of lively shapes and colors. Many readers and budding artists may draw inspiration from this talented artist who somehow managed to create art even with the limitations his own health and age caused him to deal with. This is another useful title for a text set devoted to illustrators or one for creative spirits. One of the most interesting elements of the cut-outs Matisse created is how fresh and filled with life they were.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture book biography focuses on Matisse's late work - his paper collages/"cut-outs". Simple yet evocative text, with quotes from Matisse himself.

[Karen Witzler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A children's book about Matisse and his later work with cut-outs. Enjoyable.

[Ronan Crutchfield]

I LOVED the colorful shapes. They made me gasp with how pretty they were!

[Yesenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This informational picture book about Henry Matisse gives the readers just enough information about his life that we are able to learn something new. This picture book takes us through his early years of painting and into his later years, after his illness, of cutting. The author uses real quotes from Matisse, which she found in other books about him. The colorful illustrations really make you pay attention to Matisse’s work and show his creativity in his shapes and cutouts. This is a great book for younger children and older children to learn about a famous artist.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

1) Has anyone ever heard of Henri Matisse? Wait for response. I would share a short biography of the artist that is included in the back of the book. I would then project some of Matisse’s famous paintings that he made. Once I finished the book I would then share pictures of the large cut outs Matisse made.
2) With this opening, I would be providing important background information that will allow students to make connections and realize how famous Matisse is. This might activate prior knowledge that students might already had but didn’t make the connection to the artist and art work.
3) This story was picked because it talks about a very successful person and how his artist ability was taken away due to illness. Matisse fought back and even though we was unable to even paint again, he was still able to create masterpieces by cutting. Disabilities may limit a person but a person can overcome the limitations.
(2013, June 1). School Library Journal. http://www.booksinprint2.com.leo.lib....

[Tiana]

Fiction Twin Text: “Brush of the Gods” by Lenore Look (2013)

Content Crossover: Art/Art History

Rationale: Both these books discuss two different artists. Both start as painters but take different paths. I want the children to get in touch with their creative side and realize that art comes in many shapes and forms. I would read each book, while reading we would complete a Venn diagram as a class. The center of the circles where they connect, we would put the similarities between the artists. When we finish we would use the chart to talk about other artist and how they compare to the similarities of these two discussed artists. For our project the children will create their own collage by cutting pictures from magazines that describe themselves or show their personality.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Henri Matisse's paper cuttings so I guess it is expected that I would also love this book. Jeanette Winter does a fantastic job both on the illustrations and the story of Henri Matisse's later years. She easily communicates the simplicity and exuberance of his later art work. I loved how she interspersed actual quotations throughout. The ending is both wonderful and amazing. This book will provide so much inspiration for children both in creating their own artwork and also in persevering when obstacles present themselves. While Winter provides an "author's note" where she communicates more information on the artist, I wish that she and the publisher had taken two pages rather than 3 short paragraphs so more information could have been provided.

[Iowa City Public Library]

Winter focuses on the artist’s later years when he was confined to a bed and a wheelchair. Here Matisse is depicted using colored paper and scissors and employing his vivid imagination to create artwork that his assistants put up on the walls of his seaside cottage. “A pair of scissors is a wonderful instrument,” says Matisse. He wonders why he never thought of using the technique of paper cutting for his designs earlier. In this book the pictures Winter creates are done in acrylics and cut paper.

[Whole And · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent source for an artist in focus lesson on Henri Matisse, his genius, difficulties and how he never betrayed the artist within.

Well done.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Booklist starred (June 1, 2013 (Vol. 109, No. 19))

Grades K-3. Masterful picture-book biographer Winter (The Watcher, 2011) offers an elegant, accessible portrait of expressive artist Henri Matisse. She tackles his childhood, law career, and establishment as a painter of note in the first eight pages, using small, square-frame illustrations with text placed above and below. As an old man, Matisse becomes ill, and the book turns a stylistic corner, spending the balance of its pages exploring the changes in his circumstances and the subsequent development of his medium and his genius. Unable to paint, he begins cutting shapes from paper and dives into the process, allowing his shapes to grow with his imagination. And the book adapts in turn, the imagery now sprawling across pages, filling the space with rich color in exuberant compositions. At the end, Matisse falls into dreaming, joining his shapes in the heavens, and Winter wonders, “Are some of the stars we see at night coming from Henri’s scissors? Perhaps.” With a gentle narrative dotted with quotes from the artist himself, luminous illustrations, and a warm, celebratory spirit, this exemplary picture-book biography delivers a clear, sensitive portrait of the whole man, story and soul alike. A brief author’s note concludes.



Horn Book (September/October, 2013)

In her latest picture book biography (see Barbara Bader's article "Persons of Interest," beginning on page 11), Winter focuses on Henri Matisse's later life, during which the painter took up collage. The book's opening pages feature a simple, sedate layout: brightly colored but rather quiet acrylics showing Matisse as a child and then creating famous early works are contained in neat square borders on cafe au lait pages. When he becomes so ill that "his paintings floated by in his dreams," the pages go to midnight blue as he -- and readers -- wonder: "would he ever have the energy to paint again?" Then bedridden Matisse discovers the magic he can make with scissors, and the book's design opens up; cut paper is integrated into the illustrations; and Winter begins to include quotes from the artist himself regarding this revelation ("My pleasure in cutting things out grows even greater. Why didn't I think of it earlier?"). With text that is straightforward and unflowery, Winter relies, successfully, on the strength of her own art to capture the essence of Matisse's. A brief author's note explains her specific interest in this portion of the artist's oeuvre. katrina hedeen



Horn Book starred (Spring 2014)

Winter focuses on Henri Matisse's later life, during which the painter took up collage and discovered the magic he can make with scissors. Winter's text is straightforward and unflowery, and she includes quotes from the artist regarding this revelation. Winter relies, successfully, on the strength of her own art to capture the essence of Matisse's; cut paper is integrated into the illustrations.



Kirkus Reviews (June 15, 2013)

In her extensive picture-book--biography oeuvre, Winter has proven to be particularly attuned to selecting the just-right elements of her subjects' complex lives while making them both accessible to and readily understood by young children. Here she limns the major biographical details of Matisse's long life: A French law student recovering and on bed rest after an appendectomy is given a paint set; he discovers his true calling, abandons the law, moves to Paris and embarks on a long career as a member of the Fauvist movement. Many years later, once again bedridden and frail, he begins the final and perhaps most enduring stage of his work. Winter both describes and employs Matisse's signature, late-career technique of brilliantly colored, hand-painted, cut-paper compositions. She enlivens the simple text with liberal yet judicious quotes from Matisse's letters and comments from contemporaries. This is a beautifully designed book that will certainly connect with readers, although the closing spreads may be too poetically obscure for the intended school-age audience. Winter writes that at Matisse's death, "the rainbow of shapes cradled the old artist and carried him into the heavens." The book's final question, "Are some of the stars we see at night coming to us from Henri's scissors?" seems forced. This soaringly sentimental resolution notwithstanding, the book is a charming introduction to a widely reproduced, child-friendly artist, one that children will assuredly encounter and affirmingly embrace. (author's note) (Picture book/biography. 5-8)



Publishers Weekly (May 27, 2013)

After quickly tracing French painter Matisse's journey to becoming an artist ("He was happy, and his paintings made people happy") and explaining how illness left him unable to paint at the end of his life, Winter (Kali's Song) describes his discovery of a medium less physically demanding than painting but just as expressive: painted paper and scissors. "Why didn't I think of it earlier?" he asks delightedly. Simple, folk-style paintings show Matisse in a wheelchair in a studio amid his collages; in a quiet visual cue, a plant with oversize leaves suggests inspiration for their big, organic shapes. He continues to create until his death, another moment Winter handles gracefully: "The rainbow of shapes cradled the old artist and carried him into the heavens." Old age can be fertile and useful, Winter implies; disability doesn't mean the end of creating, and triumph is possible where only sadness could have been foreseen. All of these messages lie obliquely in the text, but even readers who don't dig that deep will share Matisse's joy. Ages 5-8. Agent: Susan Cohen, Writers House. (Aug.)? (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.



School Library Journal (June 1, 2013)

K-Gr 3-At age 72, following surgery for cancer, Henri Matisse was too weak to paint. During his convalescence at the seaside, he picked up scissors and began cutting shapes from painted paper. In his own words, "It seems to me that I am in a second life." Winter's picture-book biography focuses on that second life, neatly summarizing his childhood and career in the first eight pages: "He kept on painting, forgot about law, and left his small town to be an artist in Paris." Winter captures the joy that Matisse found in cut paper, both through her acrylic and cut-paper illustrations and through quotes from his letters. The images are evocative of his art, with bright colors and rounded shapes. The first pages, depicting his youth and adulthood, are deeply framed like museum art, then transition to full-page compositions when his life changes due to illness. The author addresses his death with a light touch: "Then one night, Matisse walked into his paper garden, and the rainbow of shapes cradled the old artist and carried him into the heavens," where perhaps he now uses his scissors to make the stars in the night sky. Libraries with demand for picture-book biographies and art history will want to add this well-done title to their collections.-Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henri's Scissors is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter. It focuses on the later life of Henri Matisse, a French artist.

Henri Émile Benoît Matisse was a French artist, known for both his use of color and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily as a painter. Matisse is commonly regarded, as one of the artists who best helped to define the revolutionary developments in the visual arts throughout the opening decades of the twentieth century, responsible for significant developments in painting and sculpture.

Winter's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. The narrative quickly runs through Matisse’s artistic life and into old age where illness prevented his ability to do art, but not ruin his artistic spirit. Backmatter includes an author's note. Winter's simple, folk-style paintings show Matisse in a wheelchair in a studio amid his collages in a quiet visual cue, a plant with oversize leaves suggests inspiration for their big, organic shapes.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. After quickly tracing French painter Matisse's journey to becoming an artist and explaining how illness left him unable to paint at the end of his life, it describes his discovery of a medium less physically demanding than painting, but just as expressive: painted paper and scissors.

All in all, Henri's Scissors is a sentimental profile of an artist that never lost his artistic vision even in sickness.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henri's Scissors (e-book) by Jeanette Winter, Hindi language translation by Vidushak- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates the story of Henri- Emile-Benoit-Matisse, a painter. He was a child, his mother resided in a village where residents drew design on pots. As he grew up, he completed his education, but his primary choice was to draw and paint. He shifts to Paris, capital of France and begins to paint. Henri-Emile Matisse drew pictures everywhere. Matisse became a famous artist who created paintings that were adored around the world. As he grew old, he became seriously ill. He was confined to a wheelchair, and amazingly, it was from there that he created among his most beloved works—enormous and breathtaking paper cutouts with the help of a scissors. In this biography, his magnificent paper cutouts have been shown by the author. Based on the life of Henri Matisse, this moving and inspirational picture book biography includes a note from the author, dynamic quotes from Matisse himself, and an illuminating look at a little-known part of a great artist’s creative process. I have read the Hindi language translation of this inspiring book.

[Rahchell Cornish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book sitting on a friend's counter - borrowed from a local library - and I got carried away whilst making a cuppa.

I had heard of Matisse but I did not know he had died of cancer nor that he changed his artistic modality due to fatigue and limitations imposed by his serious illness.

The book was colourful and intriguing. I appreciated the illustrators effort to incorporate what is now remembered as Matisse's style into this biography; it seemed to honour him.

The positive, take-home message was that Matisse continued to imagine and create despite changes to his capacity. Falling ill must have been devastating for him as he is depicted to have spent the majority of his childhood and then adult years choosing his passion for the arts over an expected, typical occupation. It encompassed much of his life.

Gravely ill, he persisted to find beauty, even in he simple pleasure of cutting colourful pieces of paper.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Step into the colorful world of Henri Matisse and his magnificent paper cutouts in this biography by acclaimed picture book creator Jeanette Winter.

In a small weaving town in France, a young boy named Henri-Emile Matisse drew pictures everywhere, and when he grew up, he moved to Paris and became a famous artist who created paintings that were adored around the world. But late in life a serious illness confined him to a wheelchair, and amazingly, it was from there that he created among his most beloved works—enormous and breathtaking paper cutouts.

Based on the life of Henri Matisse, this moving and inspirational picture book biography includes a note from the author, dynamic quotes from Matisse himself, and an illuminating look at a little-known part of a great artist’s creative process.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring picture book about Henri Matisse. His modern paper-cut artwork dominates this colorful book about his life. It explains that he was an artist until he became very ill and could not leave his bed -- this is when he discovered his talent for cut paper art. Jeanette Winter's artwork is fantastic. A great inspiration for kids' own artistic creations. Also, it may be inspirational for children who may be sick and stuck in bed, or stuck inside during quarantine.

[Joey Trizzino · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book based on the life of Henri Matisse, a great artist shows his journey through life. In a small weaving town in France, Henri drew pictures everywhere. Once he grew up he moved to France, and became a famous artist. His paintings were seen all around the world. A serious illness put Henri in a wheelchair later in life. Where people might think this would stop Henri from his work, but during this time Henri created some of his best work.

[AMY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story about Henri Matisse and how he went from drawing and painting to paper craft with scissors. Easy and nice to follow. Good illustrations. Art teacher would love this one. Biographical. Highly recommended for ES. Grade level K-5

[Pennie Littau · Rating 4 out of 5]

My art professor read this book to the class while introducing Henri Matisse and i though it was a brilliant way to show art history. Picture books are a brilliant way to tackle multiple subjects at once. this book has not only art value but historical value as well.

[Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henri's illness did not stop him from doing what he loved which was creating art. Henri made his very own garden in his room with a pair of scissors and paper. One night Henri walked through his garden and into the heavens.

[Minna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book with vibrant colours and beautiful artwork that shares us the story of the artist Henri Matisse. It inspires the reader to follow one's passion till the last breath and leave a legend for an eternity.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent picture book biography of Henri Matisse and his evolution from painter to artist with cut piecings. However, the last two pages veer into the non-factual, overly sentimental musings of the author, and there are exactly zero photographs of Matisse's actual art.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colorful picture book about artist Henri Matisse and how in his later years when he could not paint, he created art with paper cut outs. An interesting story, but fails to include any actual pictures of Matisse's work. Also, the "heavenly" ending took away from this factual book.

[metimoteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brief but beautiful depiction of Henry Matisse's life! Jeanette Winter's simple yet heartfelt story may bring you to tears, but tears of joy for a man who lived his life well and found creative ways to express his art.

[Francesca Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to explore with children, looking at the life of famous french artist Henri and his work. This book provides gorgeous illustrations which can be used to plan a sequence of art lessons for the children to engage with

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biography of the French artist Henri Matisse(1869-1954) and in his later years after becoming bedridden and restricted to a wheelchair due to a debilitating illness found a new way to create masterful artwork using a pair of scissors, and cutting out different shapes.

[Nadina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good biography for younger readers. It's simple and short, the illustrations are good while not being overly detailed. I would say better for school age or if younger than only in smaller group (family) rather than for story time.

[Brian Hutzell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picturebook biography of Henri Matisse is beautifully illustrated in a manner that perfectly fits the book’s subject. Matisse is there, along with his colorful paintings and cutouts, assisted by a charming cat and several birds.

[Jennifer B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read the audio version, it didn't have any CD, but the book in itself was good, if short.

[Mary Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have lovely student created art in the Workshop of Wonder now that we've read this book!